THE ROLE

The NYC Civic Corps Member will support the expansion and consolidation of PGP’s pool of volunteer tutors, with the goal of providing academic tutoring services to a growing number of justice-involved students in NYC, while educating volunteer tutors on the injustice manifest in the carceral system. The Member will help recruit volunteer tutors, support PGP staff in developing and implementing tutor-training sessions, and provide ongoing support to tutors. Each AmeriCorps Member will manage approximately 20 volunteer tutors per semester. They will aim at ensuring 90% volunteer retention through the academic year and at ensuring that at least 85% of volunteers feel fully prepared and supported to tutor justice-involved students.

RECRUIT AND TRAIN VOLUNTEER TUTORS, WITH THE GOAL OF ENSURING THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO WORK IN CARCERAL AND REENTRY SPACES

• Recruit volunteer tutors among graduate and undergraduate students in NYC by liaising with campus organizations and coordinating recruitment events at local colleges and universities.
• With support from PGP staff, refine volunteer interview process, with the goal of optimizing volunteer placement based on academic skills, availability, and location
• Conduct volunteer interviews
• Support PGP staff in developing and implementing tutor-training sessions, including moderating small-group discussion. Ensure that all volunteer tutors participate in national and regional trainings, including tracking attendance following-up with volunteers to enroll them in make-up sessions.

STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH CAMPUS LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS AT PGP PARTNER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• Meet with campus leadership organization representatives to learn about their previous experience and needs
• With support from the PGP staff, guide campus leadership organizations in designing a year-long strategy, including planning for a series of events as well as brainstorming about outreach and funding strategies
• Meet with campus leadership organization representatives to review strategy and adjust ongoing programming as needed
• Conduct debriefs with campus leadership organization representatives to assess the impact and lessons learned of PGP campus initiatives and events

BOLSTER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN EXISTING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES

• With support from the PGP staff, map existing partnerships and resources available to formerly incarcerated learners in NYC
• Meet with community partners to identify their needs and potential areas of collaboration
• With support from the PGP staff, assess gaps in existing programs and resources, creating a roadmap for the expansion of PGP programming in NYC

PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS

• Ensure that all volunteers and students complete intake forms and evaluation
• In collaboration with PGP partner organizations and with support of PGP staff, determine dates and times of the tutoring sessions and pair volunteer tutors with students
• Monitor student and volunteer attendance and intervene (with support of PGP staff) to ensure that it remains consistent through the semester and providing direct support to students as needed
• Respond in a timely manner to volunteer inquiries and requests for support

PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience or interest in volunteering or managing volunteers
• Ability to work independently and in a group
• The PGP welcomes applications from people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system.